It is very common to start a motorcycle by holding the clutch. Regarding this phenomenon, there are currently two camps. Some people think it is a completely wrong practice, while others say it is an essential skill for experienced drivers.

In my personal opinion, it's perfectly fine to start a motorcycle while holding the clutch to shift gears. This is not a bad habit of using the vehicle; instead, it can avoid some unnecessary troubles and make your first ride safer. As for the reasons behind it, if you read the second paragraph carefully, you will find the answer you want.

1. The origin of bad habits

The core view that holding the clutch of a motorcycle to "start in gear" is an incorrect operation is ultimately due to "excessive starting resistance". They believe that motorcycles should be started in neutral gear instead of holding the clutch to "start in gear". If there is gear intervention, it will increase the resistance of the starter during the starting process, which in turn will cause unnecessary wear and tear.

This statement seems fine on the surface. Starting in gear does indeed increase the starting resistance to a certain extent, especially when the clutch is not completely disengaged when the vehicle is cold. At the moment the crankshaft rotates, it will drive the gearbox to make unnecessary followings, and even transfer power to the rear wheels (this does not exist when the vehicle is hot).

But do you think that if you don't pinch the clutch, the gears of the transmission won't rotate? The reason why there is neutral gear in the transmission is mainly because the main and auxiliary shafts are not engaged, rather than the gears being stationary.

In other words, the internal structure of most straddling motorcycles allows the clutch to rotate along with the crankshaft, but since there is no gear shifting, power is not transmitted to the rear wheels.

Even if we take a step back and assume that the so-called starting resistance here is not worth mentioning at all in terms of starting safety. You should know that manual transmission cars need to be started by stepping on the clutch whether they are in neutral or other gears. Does that mean their starting resistance is not that great? Its structural setting will instead make the startup smoother.

2. Start safety

The core idea that holding the clutch to start a motorcycle while in gear is the correct operation lies in that it can effectively prevent the safety hazards caused by "false neutral gear".

For straddling motorcycles, the probability of false neutral gear is still relatively high. Even some new vehicles may have this phenomenon.

The main reason for the "false neutral gear" on motorcycles is related to the gap between the gears of the transmission. Of course, it cannot be ruled out that there was a misoperation during the gear shifting process, which did not fully reset the gears. Therefore, this is inevitable.

Suppose that when the neutral gear light of a motorcycle is on, if the gear of the transmission has not reached this position, starting it rashly may result in a nod at the start or even a rollover.

To avoid the emergence of such uncertainties, experienced drivers usually choose to start the engine by holding the clutch rather than looking at the gear display.

To sum up, starting a motorcycle by pinching the clutch is not a bad habit. On the contrary, it makes the start-up smoother. It doesn't matter which gear position you are in during this process, but you must shift into first gear when starting. Of course, you can also choose to start in a higher gear, but it can damage the clutch and the success rate may not be high.

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